Compliant heat shield liner hanger assembly for gas turbine engines

Abstract

Hanger assemblies for coupling heat shield liners to cases of gas turbine engines are disclosed. The disclosed hanger assemblies include a pivoting joint coupled between a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is coupled to the liner by a liner attachment assembly and the second segment is coupled to the case by a case attachment assembly. At least one of the liner attachment assembly or the case attachment assembly permits translational movement of the first or second segments respectively with respect to the liner or case to accommodate for thermal expansion in the axial direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hanger assembly for coupling a heat shield liner to a case, the hanger assembly comprising:
 a pivoting joint coupling a first segment to a second segment, the first segment being coupled to the heat shield liner by a liner attachment assembly, the second segment being coupled to the case by a case attachment assembly; 
 at least one of the liner attachment assembly and the case attachment assembly permitting translational movement of the first segment or the second segment, respectively, with respect to the case, 
 wherein the case attachment assembly includes an annular outer bushing passing through and connected to the case, the annular outer bushing accommodating a fastener that couples the annular outer bushing to the second segment, the fastener being spaced apart from the annular outer bushing to define an annular gap between the fastener and the annular outer bushing that permits translational movement of the second segment and the fastener with respect to the annular outer bushing and the case. 
 
     
     
       2. The hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a proximal threaded section that connects the fastener to the second segment, the fastener also including a distal head and a middle shoulder section disposed between the proximal threaded section and the distal head that is wider than the proximal threaded section, the middle shoulder section being longer than the annular outer bushing to provide at least one clearance gap between the distal head and the annular outer bushing or between the second segment and the annular outer bushing that permits translational movement of the second segment and the fastener with respect to the annular outer bushing and the case. 
     
     
       3. The hanger assembly of  claim 2  further comprising: a washer disposed between the distal head of the fastener and the annular outer bushing. 
     
     
       4. The hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the liner attachment assembly includes a stud connected to the heat shield liner and threadably connected to the first segment. 
     
     
       5. The hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first segment includes a distal forked end that is pivotally connected to a cross member and the second segment includes a proximal forked end that is pivotally connected to the cross member, the cross member pivotally coupling the second segment to the first segment to form the pivoting joint. 
     
     
       6. The hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second segment includes a distal end that is pivotally connected to a swivel, and the first segment includes a distal forked end that is pivotally connected to a cross member that passes through the swivel to form the pivoting joint. 
     
     
       7. The hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first segment includes a distal end that is pivotally connected to a swivel, and the second segment includes a proximal forked end that is pivotally connected to a cross member that passes through the swivel to form the pivoting joint. 
     
     
       8. A hanger assembly for coupling a heat shield liner to a case, the hanger assembly comprising:
 a pivoting joint coupling a first segment to a second segment, the first segment being coupled to the heat shield liner by a liner attachment assembly, the second segment being coupled to the case by a case attachment assembly; 
 at least one of the liner attachment assembly and the case attachment assembly permitting translation movement of the first segment or the second segment, respectively, with respect to the case, 
 wherein the case attachment assembly includes an annular outer bushing passing through and connected to the case, the annular outer bushing accommodates an annular inner bushing, the annular inner bushing is coupled to a fastener that couples the annular inner bushing to the second segment, the annular inner bushing is spaced apart from the annular outer bushing to define an annular gap between the annular outer bushing and the annular inner bushing that permits translational movement of the second segment and the fastener with respect to the annular outer bushing and the case. 
 
     
     
       9. The hanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the fastener includes a distal head and a proximal threaded section that couples the annular inner bushing to the second segment, the annular inner bushing is longer than the annular outer bushing to provide at least one clearance gap between the distal head of the fastener and the annular outer bushing that permits translational movement of the second segment and the fastener with respect to the annular outer bushing and the case. 
     
     
       10. The hanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the fastener includes a distal head and a proximal threaded section that couples the annular inner bushing to the second segment, the fastener passing through a washer that is trapped between the distal head and the annular inner bushing, the annular inner bushing being longer than the annular outer bushing to provide at least one clearance gap between the washer and the annular outer bushing that permits translational movement of the second segment and the fastener with respect to the annular outer bushing and the case. 
     
     
       11. The hanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the liner attachment assembly includes a stud connected to the heat shield liner and threadably connected to the first segment. 
     
     
       12. The hanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first segment includes a distal forked end that is pivotally connected to a cross member and the second segment includes a proximal forked end that is pivotally connected to the cross member, the cross member pivotally coupling the second segment to the first segment to form the pivoting joint. 
     
     
       13. The hanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second segment includes a distal end that is pivotally connected to a swivel, and the first segment includes a distal forked end that is pivotally connected to a cross member that passes through the swivel to form the pivoting joint. 
     
     
       14. The hanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first segment includes a distal end that is pivotally connected to a swivel, and the second segment includes a proximal forked end that is pivotally connected to a cross member that passes through the swivel to form the pivoting joint. 
     
     
       15. A hanger assembly for coupling a heat shield liner to a case, the hanger assembly comprising:
 a pivoting joint coupling a first segment to a second segment, the first segment being coupled to the heat shield liner by a liner attachment assembly, the second segment being coupled to the case by a case attachment assembly; 
 at least one of the liner attachment assembly and the case attachment assembly permitting translational movement of the first segment or the second segment, respectively, with respect to the case, 
 wherein the case attachment assembly includes a washer plate disposed opposite the case from the second segment, the washer plate including a slot and at least one opening, the washer plate being connected to the case by at least one stud that is connected to the case and passes through the at least one opening, the second segment being connected to the case by a bolt having a proximal threaded end connected to the second segment and a distal head that is slidably disposed above the slot of the washer plate to permit translational movement of the second segment and the bolt along the slot. 
 
     
     
       16. The hanger assembly of  claim 15  further comprising: a cover disposed over the washer plate with the washer plate being disposed between the cover and the case, the distal head being disposed between the washer plate and the cover, and the cover being spaced apart from the distal head to permit translational movement of the distal head along the slot. 
     
     
       17. The hanger assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the liner attachment assembly includes a stud connected to the heat shield liner and threadably connected to the first segment. 
     
     
       18. A hanger assembly for coupling a heat shield liner to a case, the hanger assembly comprising:
 a pivoting joint coupling a first segment to a second segment, the first segment being coupled to the heat shield liner by a liner attachment assembly, the second segment being coupled to the case by a case attachment assembly; 
 at least one of the liner attachment assembly and the case attachment assembly permitting translational movement of the first segment or the second segment, respectively, with respect to the case, 
 wherein the case attachment assembly includes an annular bushing that is threadably connected to the case and a fastener that passes through the annular bushing and is connected to the second segment, 
 the liner attachment assembly including a bracket connected to the heat shield liner, the bracket including a raised section with a slot disposed in the raised section, the first segment having a proximal threaded end that is connected to a distal threaded end of a bolt, the bolt having a proximal head that is trapped between the raised section of the bracket and the heat shield liner, the slot permitting translational movement of the proximal head of the bolt and the first segment. 
 
     
     
       19. A hanger assembly for coupling a heat shield liner to a case, the hanger assembly comprising:
 a pivoting joint coupling a first segment to a second segment, the first segment being coupled to the heat shield liner by a liner attachment assembly, the second segment being coupled to the case by a case attachment assembly; 
 at least one of the liner attachment assembly and the case attachment assembly permitting translational movement of the first segment or the second segment, respectively, with respect to the case, 
 wherein the case attachment assembly includes an elongated washer plate disposed opposite the case from the second segment, the elongated washer plate including a center slot disposed between a pair of openings, the openings each being connected to the case by a respective stud that is connected to the case, the second segment being connected to the case by a bolt having a proximal threaded end connected to the second segment and a distal head that is slidably disposed above the center slot of the elongated washer plate to permit translational movement of the second segment and the bolt along the center slot; and 
 wherein the liner attachment assembly includes a stud connected to the heat shield liner that is threadably received in a threaded hole disposed at a proximal end of the first segment. 
 
     
     
       20. A hanger assembly for coupling a heat shield liner to a case, the hanger assembly comprising:
 a pivoting joint coupling a first segment to a second segment, the first segment being coupled to the case by a case attachment assembly; 
 at least one of the liner attachment assembly and the case attachment assembly permitting translational movement of the first segment or the second segment, respectively, with respect to the case, 
 wherein the case attachment assembly includes an annular bushing that is threadably connected to the case and a fastener that passes through the annular bushing and is connected to the second segment, 
 the liner attachment assembly including a bracket connected to the heat shield liner, the bracket including a raised section, the first segment having a proximal threaded end that is connected to a threaded end of a bolt, the bolt having a shaped head that is trapped between the raised section of the bracket and the heat shield liner, the shaped head being prevented from rotating within the raised section, the raised section permitting translational movement of the head of the bolt and the first segment.